Panthers Pummel Spartans In Quarters

Palm Beach Gardens — Hollywood Hills won the opening coin toss, and instead of taking the first possession, the Spartans kicked to Dwyer to try to set the tone on defense. Bad idea.

The Panthers' Matt Elam scored on a 63-yard run on the game's second play and Dwyer never looked back, crushing Hollywood Hills 53-0 in the 4A regional quarterfinals.

"I said 'they're in trouble' when they decided to kick to us," Elam said. "I knew the first time I touched the ball I was going to score."

Elam finished with a career-high 234 yards on just 11 carries to go with four touchdowns. He spent the pregame with his teammates watching video of last year's state semifinals loss to Tampa-Plant.

Elam, who is committed to the University of Florida but is still weighing other options, was taken out of the game early in the third quarter after he scored his fourth touchdown to put Dwyer up 41-0.

Dwyer quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for two touchdowns to Robert Clark and Gerald Christian, and finished with 161 yards.

Cornerback Darrell Hunter intercepted two Hollywood Hills passes and Julian Whigham also had an interception.

- Andrew Abramson

DR. KROP 19, EVERGLADES 7: The Gators hung tough and through the first three quarters, but the Lightning pulled away on the strength of Brandon Eldemire's 74 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.

With the game tied at 7 and the Gators driving in the fourth, Dr. Krop's Tavarius Nole intercepted his second pass of the game at his own 35-yard line.

Several plays later Richard Serjilus caught a 25-yard touchdown strike from Marlon Kelly with two minutes left in the fourth quarter that iced the game for the Lightning (7-4). Kelly finished 8 of 13 for 107 yards.

- Donn Williams

CAROL CITY 30, CYPRESS BAY 16: Sometimes its better to be lucky rather than good.

Carol City cashed in on a lucky play as punter Teandric Slocum outwitted and outran the Cypress Bay defense for a 82 yard touchdown run to seal the Chiefs' 30-16 victory Friday night at Traz Powell.

Clinging to a seven-point lead and facing fourth and 13 from their own 18 yard line with 21 seconds remaining in the game, Carol City coaches instructed Slocum to run around the back of the end zone and take a safety, taking as much time off the clock as he could.